Large invasive rodents carry disease and attack crops across California wetlands - Local News Matters

Nutria, invasive rodents from South America, have been spotted in California's wetlands, raising alarms among local agricultural officials. These animals can consume 25% of their body weight in vegetation daily, threatening crops and levees. Matthew Slattengren, the agricultural commissioner for Contra Costa County, voiced concerns about potential crop damage if nutria populations expand. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been actively trapping these rodents since their rediscovery in 2017, removing thousands over the past seven years. Despite CDFW’s efforts, nutria populations have continued to grow, with reports across several counties including San Joaquin and Merced.

Edwin Grosholz, an expert on invasive species, noted the difficulty in determining whether current populations are new introductions or remnants of past ones. CDFW utilizes game cameras and traps to manage nutria populations in affected areas. The ongoing presence of nutria poses a significant threat to California's agricultural landscape and wetland ecosystems.